Spotlight



Aug.. 1o 1926` 1,595,753 J. w. BRENKERT ET AL y SPOTLIGHT Filed Feb. 15, 1926 Patented Aug. 19, 1926.

vnari-ED sTArEs oFgFcE.

JOSEPH BRENKERT AND KARL BRENEERT, OF'DETROI', MICIGAN. i

Application iled February 15, 1926. Serial No. 88,370.

Spotlights and vsimilar illuminating or projecting apparatus are luniversally mounted so that the spotlight or apparatus may be vshifted to cast a ray or beam of light ance, thus resulting in confusion or necessitating very careful manipulation of the vlight and its housing` in order that effects will not be disturbed. It is rather diiiicult for the operator of a spotlight housing to adjust a light therein while the spotlight housing is being shifted about, because movement of the light within the housing unbalances the housing and makes manipulation there of very uncertain.

To render the above adjustments comparatively easy and insure proper balance and instant 'control of the spotlight is the main purpose of our invent-ion. In addition, we aim to provide a counterbalance for a universally mounted spotlight housing and theV counterbalance is Aadjustable to compensate for any attachments that may be applied to the housing for lighting effects.

We also provide an automatic counterpoise for the light within the housing, and when either the light or counterpoise vis moved, the equilibrium of the light housing ismaintained, whereby an operator can accurately manipulate the projection of anyv kind of light.

vOur invention further aims to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive counterbalance mechanism y for maintaining the equipoise of a light housing during ad j ustment ofthe light therein, and this mechanism, as applied to a conventional form of spotlight will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the spotlight;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a portion of the spotlight partly broken away and partly in section, vand Fig. 4 is a cross sectional vview of av portion of the spotlight, taken on the line IV 1Vy of 'Figure 1. n

As illustrating a conventional form of universal mounting for a spotlight housing, we show avpedestal or supporty 1, on which is swiveleda yoke 2having its upper ends provided with bearings?) fortrunnions 4 and 5,`car'ried'by the' side walls 6 of a light hous-` ing, vgenerally designated Mounted on the trunnionl 5 is a slotted quadrant 8 engageable by a wheel equipped nut 9 on a screwthreaded stud 10 carriedby the yoke 2 and extending through the slotted quadrant. The nut 9 may be loose relative to the quadrant so that the .housing 7 may be freely tilted in the yoke 2 hand, or the nut 9 may he adjusted to vfix the housing relative tothe yoke against accidental movement. F iXing of the housing' 7 in a position to which it has been adjusted is desirable when a light` condition is to be maintained for a considerable period of time. Ordinarily the nut 9 is loose so that the housing 7 may be tilted'to a desired angle or may be hori- Zontally swung about thevertical axis of the pedestal 1.

The housing 7 is hung off center, thatis, the trunnions 4 and 5 are closer to the front end of the housing than the rear end, whereby'thereis a rearward overhang'of the housing for the convenience of manipulation. As a counterbalance for the rear overhang ing end of the housing thev side walls 6, between the trunnions 4 and 5 andthel front wall 11 of the housing, are longitudinally slotted as at 12 for screws or supports 13 of coimterbalance members 14 arranged against the inner vfaces of the housing walls 6. The counterbalance members 14 may be shifted tonormally maintain the housing 7 substantially horizontal and may be further ad-k justed to compensate for additional vweight placedinor'on either end of the housing 7, for instance scenic effect attachments for the front wall 11.

The bottom wall 15 of the light housing 7 has supports 16 for longitudinally disposed parallel guide rods 17, and slidable on said guide rods is a carriage 18 provided with an upright 19 adapted to support a conventional form of adjustable carbon holder 20 constituting a light. The carbon holder is a fair example of a source. of light that may be used in thehousing 7 for casting a beam or flood of light in a desired direction.

Depending from the bottom wall 15 of the housing are sets of bearings 21 and 22 for transverse shafts 23 and 24 respectively. Mounted on these shafts are sprocket wheels 25, over and about which is trained an endless sprocket chain 26 to which the carriage 18 is suitably connected, as at 27.

The bearings 21 are connected to the bearings 22 by longitudinally disposed parallel guide rods 28, said guide rods being parallel to the guide rods 17 above the housing wall 15. Slidable on the guide rods 28 is a counterpoise 29 suitably secured to the sprocket chain 26, as at 30, and this counterpoise is adapted to be moved in synchronism with the carriage 18 when rotation is imparted to the shaft 24 by a hand wheel 31 mounted on said shaft. As a matter of good construction the lower edges of the housing wall 6 may be inset, as best shown in Figures l and 8 and the bottom wall 15 made detachable to facilitate assembling the counterbalancing mechanism.

With the housing 7 properly balanced on its universal support the. rear end of the housing may be manipulated by one hand to direct a beam of flood of light in a desired direction, and the focus may be varied by manipulating the wheel 31 with the other hand. All of this is accomplished without any sudden or unexpected unbalancing ot theA housing 7 because the counterpoise 29 movable in synchronism with the light properly balances said light relative to the housing, and with the housing properly balanced relative to its support, it is obvious that the housing can be safely manipulated and at all times readily controlled.

In using the term focusing it is to be understood that it refers to the adjustment of the light relative to any lens or attachment on the front wall oli' the housing 7, and that the term counterbalancing mechanism is to include such mechanical equivalents, as racks, pinions, flexible members and the like that may be substituted for the sprocket chain which articulates the light and counterpoise for movement in synchronism. Uur invention is susceptible to such other changes as are permissible by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l l. In a spotlight wherein a light housing is bodily shiftable for directing the path of light, and wherein the light is adjustable in the housing for focusing purposes means adapted to maintain the equipoise of the light housing during adjustment of the light, said means including a counterbalance mechanism operable in synchronism with the adjustment of said light.

2. A spotlight as called for in claim 1, wherein said counterbalance and light are movable in parallel planes relative to said housing.

3. A spotlight as called 'for in claim l, wherein said counterbalance and light are articulated for simultaneous movement, and means operatable at a side of said housing -for shifting said counterbalance and light. il. ln a spotlight wherein a light housing is universally supported for directing the iath oi" light, and wherein the light is ad-- justable in the housing for focusing purposes z-a counterbalance for the housing to maintain it balanced, and an automatic counterpoise adaptedto compensate for any unbalancing incident to Vadjustment of said light.

5. A spotlight as called for in claim 4, wherein said counterpoise is articulated with said light for movement in synchronism therewith.

6. A spotlight as .called for in claim fl, wherein said counterpoise is slidably mounted below said housing to move in unison with any adjustment of said light.

7. A spotlight apparatus including a tiltable housing, an adjustable light therein, a counterpoise for said light, and means to cause said light and counterpoise to move` together.

8. A spotlight apparatus as called for in claim 7, further characteried by means maintaining said housing bala-need.

9. A spotlight apparatus as called for in claim 7 further characterized by a support for said housing equipped with means for holding said housing in a titlted adjusted position.

10. A spotlight apparatus as called for in claim 7, wherein said means includes an endless movable connection between said light and counterpoise with means to facilitate movement oi' said connection.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

KARL BRENKERT. JOSEPH W. BRENKERT. 

